Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot stabbed aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, is recovering well and “smiling, laughing, chatting” at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, India’s ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, has said.
What happened on flydubai flight FZ1073
Machchhar, despite being injured, is reported to have helped open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene. “I just met him along with his family here, in the hospital, in UAE , and he’s doing well. I was very relieved to see, and very reassured, that he’s doing well, he’s quite stable. The pilot was initially taken to a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the incident before being shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical treatment and recovery. “After receiving initial medical treatment in a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, he has now been shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical attention and recovery. Our ambassador in UAE met Captain Machchhar in hospital and enquired about his well being,” the statement, shared by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal read. Passengers and crew members helped restrain the attacker, while additional pilots on board subsequently took control of the aircraft . The plane was then diverted to Tabuk, where the injured pilots were taken to hospital. Passengers continued their journey to Tel Aviv later on a replacement flydubai aircraft.
Mittal met Machchhar and his family at the hospital and said the pilot was in a stable condition and receiving good medical care. He was talking, he was chatting, a bit of discomfort, but I think he’s under good medical care here in UAE,” Mittal told Prasar Bharati. Saudi authorities said Machchhar and the co-pilot were taken to hospital in Tabuk after the emergency landing.
Despite some discomfort, the pilot’s morale was high, the ambassador said on Thursday. The ministry of external affairs on Thursday said it was closely monitoring Machchhar’s health and assured his family of all possible support. Once their condition improved and they were medically cleared, both were moved to Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning accompanied by an Emirati security team.
